Here is an explanation of all components of OFI’s teacher training

IMMERSIONS

As a trainee, you will be required to attend all 4 immersions, each one focused on the 4 dimensions of embodiment: body, heart, mind, and soul.

From each Immersion, you will receive:

• 30 hrs of intensive personal practice with a team of highly experienced and talented teachers

• An in-depth understanding of the Core Movement resources and their relevance to daily life

• Insights on how to prepare and tend to the moving body so you can dance forever

• Skills to include and attend to emotions, thoughts, stories, and patterns that hold us back and how to turn them into creative fuel

• An opportunity to meet your peers in person and build relationships within the community

PRACTICUM

While our immersions are experiential and aimed at deepening your movement practice, as a teacher in training you will be required to complete 20 hours of practice days. Held in small groups, the practice days are dedicated to bringing the Open Floor curriculum to life in your teaching, and building the practical skills required for teaching Open Floor movement practice to others.

During practice days, you will learn:

• How to design movement scores to teach each of the 10 Core Movement Resources

• How to use physical anchors to keep bringing your students back to the body and learning through the lens of embodiment

• How to ask the right questions and give instructions to increase your students’ self-awareness and mindfulness

• How to include the 4×4 weave in your teaching

• How to create exercises using other modalities in addition to dance

• Understand different teaching styles and how to use them

• How to teach people of all ages and abilities

• Grow your insights into group dynamics and embody fluid authority

WEBINARS

Part of your training will take place online engaging with faculty and other trainees in a series of live webinars, and viewing self-paced recorded webinars to further your study of embodiment and mindful movement. Each training phase will include a series of webinars to deepen your studies.

From DJ skills, to learning anatomy, to book clubs, our online courses cover a wide range of topics to support your learning and expand your skills as an Open Floor teacher.

ASSIGNMENTS

As in any adult learning program, the work you do in between immersions and practice days is what will make the difference to the quality of your learning. Assignments include teaching practice classes, developing music skills, taking electives, reading, and writing reflections.

To share and demonstrate your growing skillset, you will be required to teach practice classes in your local communities or workplace that focus on specific elements of the curriculum.

Other assignments include:

• Developing your music skills through assignments in musicality, creating soundscapes, and music technology

• Completing a required reading list to enhance your theoretical knowledge of the work

• Sharing written reflections with your mentor to document and anchor your learning

 Together with your mentor, you will decide on a number of electives to enhance your understanding and experience of other people’s teaching by attending Open Floor workshops.

MENTORING

A team of Senior Open Floor teachers will be present with your journey from start to finish. This faculty team will facilitate the Immersions, Practicums and Online Webinars. Concurrent to the training program you will be able to select and make arrangements with an Open Floor Teacher to support you outside of this formal training curriculum. You are required to hire a mentor for a minimum of 8 sessions. Whether or not you know who you want to mentor with, we will provide a list of available and seasoned mentors from previous trainings. We also encourage peer mentoring and working with an ongoing peer group throughout the training.

Questions:

We will have several “meet the faculty” sessions every 3-6 months until the training begins. Please bring questions and curiosities.

1. Weds, December 2, 2026 @ 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

2. Mon, Feb 1, 2027 @ 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

Please email us to join our regular email update list for interested candidates. You will get zoom links to these dates if you are on this list. We know that your decision to commit to a two year program like this is a big and beautiful commitment. We also welcome questions by email ~ Jenny & Majero